Hormonal profiles and the reproductive tract morphology of the Brown Bush baby(Galago garnerttii) during induced and non-induced oestrous cycles

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Abstract

The aim of the study was first to characterize
endocrine profiles of the brown bush-baby (Galago
garnettii) during the oestrous cycle and during
pregnancy. The second part looked at the effect of
inducing gonadotropins on their oestrous cycles,
hormonal profiles and morphology of the reproductive
tract.
Oestrus cycles of Galago garnettii were analyzed
from daily observations of their external genitalia.
Their plasma oestradiol and progesterone hormones were
quantified by radioimmunoassay at various stages of the
cycle.
Vaginal oestrus was successfully induced by using
FSH:LH-hCG combination. During treatment, blood samples
were collected on alternate days and later analyzed. A
pre-treatment of progesterone (Smg daily for S days)
was f i rs+ given, followed by 2mg FSH:LH administered
for 5 days. A single dose of 250 I.U. of hCG
administered at the end of the treatment caused
membrane regression in the colony-bred animals while
the captured animals required a second injection of
t.his dose given on the next days.
Reproductive cycles of the non-induced animals did
not show regularity from observations of their external
genitalia. However, blood samples showed a pattern in
their steroid levels. Peak levels of progesterone
(meanisd) of 45ilOnmol/l were detected in the luteal
phase that lasted for 19±5 days. A follicular phase
with low progesterone (3±lnmol/l) lasted 23±9 days.
Oestradiol peaks of 969±265 pmol/l were seen at the end
of each phase. Two pregnant animals exhibited maximum
levels of 1257 nmol/l and 3113 pmol/l of progesterone
and oestradiol respectively.
A correlation was deduced between the state of the
external genitalia, behaviour and steroidal profiles.
It was also evident that the inducing hormones exerted
their effects on the reproductive tracts of all the
animals.